STEP ON IT

FLOORING & ROOM DIVIDERS

166 MARCH 2020 Oggie Flooring

Newtechwood Lalegno SA

on it STEP Trisha Harinath looks at the latest flooring optionsflooring options for your home your home

Lafarge South Africa

he correct type of flooring has the ability to truly enhance your home both inside and out. The latest when it comes to flooring applications is to use the same or similar type of floor throughout the interior and exterior so there’s a sense of continuity. When it comes to choosing floors for your home, things like maintenance, durability, finish and fit for purpose will ultimately be the deciding factors. Here’s what our experts have to say about what’s current. T

>

Lalegno SA Oggie Flooring

INDOORS When it comes to the inside of your home, the options are vast. “In the residential market, we have seen requests for less busy, polished concrete floors,” says Darren Jacobs, technical global brand manager for Lafarge South Africa. “Often where clients do not want to see excessive amounts of aggregate, either a moderately speckled appearance or simply polished concrete with required pigmentation will be used.”

If you are looking for something different, resin floors are also gaining in popularity. “Designers love resin floors as they create a beautiful blank canvas that accentuates your fittings and furnishings instead of fighting to steal the show,” says Warren Varrie, the managing director of Teracoat Seamless Resin Flooring.

On the other hand, if you still prefer the look of solid wood in your home, these types of floors will remain timeless and Nick Gluckman, the owner of Oggie Flooring, says a wooden floor “adds warmth to the home, has transcended generations and still remains popular”. He says: “When you are selecting flooring, go for a product that lives comfortably with all furniture and allows you to change your style with ease.”

Hanel Appleby, sales director at Lalegno SA, says when you are considering what type of floor to purchase, you should “always go for the timeless options. Quality goes a long way. And check with a local professional before you start chopping up existing floors as it might be possible to lay your new wooden floors or SPC rigid flooring over existing floors”.

Teracoat Seamless Resin Flooring Oggie Flooring

OUTDOORS Just as there is a variety of indoor flooring options, there is also a wide selection to choose from when it comes to exterior flooring. In this space, you will want something that is hardwearing and versatile, and an option that requires little maintenance, but still manages to look great throughout the years. “Large-size tiles, smoother textures and colour tones towards cool greys and a softer mottled look” are on-trend, according to Brett Bailey, sales and design manager at The Creative Stone Company. “When looking at different flooring solutions, it is always best to seek advice from professionals. They can guide you in the right direction and provide sound advice regarding the right products to best suit your home. Use top installers as well, as this is the key to a beautiful finish.” > The Creative Stone Company

“Use the same or similar type of floor throughout the interior and exterior so there is a sense of continuity.”

Another exterior flooring option to consider is “decking” and Glenn Varrie, director of Newtechwood, explains that “decking is an outdoor flooring option that is warm and dynamic and allows for the separation of various levels quite easily”. He says if you’re considering decking, you should look into “second-generation composite decking, which offers no maintenance and is therefore a much-preferred option over natural wood products”.

“Second-generation composite decking differs from firstgeneration due to the fact that it has a cap or protective layer bonded to the core of the board, which protects the core from the elements thereby drastically increasing longevity of the boards themselves,” he explains. Q Newtechwood

With thanks to American Shutters, Lafarge South Africa, Lalegno SA, Newtechwood, Oggie Flooring, Plantation Shutters ® , Taylor Blinds & Shutters, Teracoat Seamless Resin Flooring and The Creative Stone Company

SEPARATE IN STYLE

While floors add the ultimate finishing touch to your home, room dividers are also gaining in popularity for various reasons. We chatted to the experts to hear their thoughts on room dividers.

“Shutters are an ideal and cost-effective way to divide a room or close off a passage area, playing with the layout of your room without needing a solid structure. Our adjustable louvres mean you can either bring rooms together or separate them, opening the louvres for light and transparency or closing them for a more intimate atmosphere.” –Karina Palmer, interior designer and marketing director at American Shutters

“Taylor’s Thermowood® wood shutters are light, made from extruded PVC and have been tested under extreme hot, humid and damp conditions to make sure they do not perish or warp. They are easy to stack away, to open the room up, and can be configured in a slider solution, or bi-fold, or any way you’d like. They’re ideal for dividing small bachelor apartments without being a permanent structure.” –Anthony Mederer, managing director at Taylor Blinds & Shutters

“Plantation Shutters® timber shutters are used when a room divider is needed to enclose a space or keep a smaller portion of a large room warm. These are also often installed to create a small study nook or office or separate an en suite bathroom from a bedroom or to separate a kitchen from a dining room or scullery. The security shutters made from aluminium are used when one needs to secure an area, for example a dressing room that has jewellery, a study with confidential documents or the entrance to the sleeping area of the home.” –Briggie Kirchmann, head of marketing at Plantation Shutters

“Room dividers are also gaining in popularity for various reasons.”

American Shutters

MARCH 2020 Taylor Blinds & Shutters

GLOBAL LEADERS IN ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING AND SPC

OAK • Architect’s choice • Available in various sizes • Pre - finished according to client’s specs • European Certified Standards

INTRODUCING: LALEGNO VINYL/SPC (STONE PLASTIC COMPOSITE)

• Rigid wear layer • Water - resistant core • Scratch - resistant – aliminium oxide core • Fire - resistant • Slip - resistant • Better sound absorption • Stain - resistant technology • Stable to colour and temperature • 100% recyclable • Phthalate - free • Commercial and residential range